On August 22, 23 and 24, a  series of events took place in Bulgaria on the occasion of the celebration of the 32nd anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine.

An exhibition, named "Children of the War" was opened in Russe. The exhibition presents the works of children aged between 6 and 16 years from different parts of Ukraine, who have been living in the conditions of Russia's brutal war against their country for more than one year and a half. The little authors are participants in the International Arts Festival МАЛЮЙ.UA.WAR. This event, organized by Mr. Plamen Bobokov, the honorary consul of Ukraine in Russe, was attended by Mr. Danail Kovachev, the regional governor, Mr. Encho Enchev, deputy mayor of Russe Municipality, as well as representatives of the business environments, public and artistic circles.

 An exhibition under the title "Icons on the ammunition cases" was opened in Plovdiv. The authors of the art project are the Ukrainian artists Oleksandr Klimenko and Sonya Atlantova. The event, organized by Mr. Dimitar Georgiev, the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Plovdiv, was attended by Mr. Ilia Zyumblev, the regional governor, Mr. Zdravko Dimitrov, the mayor of Plovdiv, representatives of the business environments, public and artistic circles. During the ceremony H. E. Mrs. Olesya Ilashchuk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Bulgaria, awarded the donors who contributed to the creation of the Center for Ukrainian Migrants "Second Home", under the auspices of the charity fund "Ukraine Support&Renovation".

An art project, named "Stone embroidery on textiles from Nova Kakhovka" was presented in Sofia. The event was officially opened by Mr. Krastyu Krastev, the Minister of Culture of Bulgaria, by H. E. Mrs. Olesya Ilashchuk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Bulgaria and by the author of the project - the Ukrainian artist Tanya Bolgarova, who, among other things, emphasized the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of Ukraine and Ukrainian culture in the conditions of a full-scale Russian invasion. The exhibition was visited by representatives of the government, the parliament, the clergy, the Sofia municipality, non-governmental organizations, business environment and artistic circles, the diplomatic corps and the Ukrainian community in Sofia. The exhibition presents 12 textile panels - copies of the "stone embroidery" from Nova Kakhovka, built in the 1950s during the construction of the Hydroelectric power plant in Nova Kakhovka and the North Crimean Canal. At that time, artists and architects were sent to the city, including the famous Ukrainian monumental artist Mr. Grigory Dovzhenko. According to his projects unique ornaments and authentic panels were created, which became decoration of buildings and changed the appearance of the city. More than 2,000 square meters of decorative panels were produced in Nova Kakhovka. Later they called them "stone embroideries" and became the architectural lacework and cultural heritage of Ukraine. On June 6, 2023, the Russian occupiers committed ecocide - they blew up the hydroelectric plant and flooded part of the Kherson region. Unfortunately, some of these "stone embroidery" buildings have been destroyed or damaged.

The author of this art project is Mrs. Tetyana Bolgarova, Ukrainian artist, IT specialist, designer, ceramist, carpet embroiderer. In Ukraine, she is engaged in art therapy for children with autism. She was forced to flee from Russian aggression twice - the first time she left the temporarily occupied Crimea with her young son in 2014, and the second time - in May 2022, she left the temporarily occupied Kherson and moved to Bulgaria. Her project was implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria and in cooperation with the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Bulgaria "Mati Ukraina".

The material was provided by the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Bulgaria.